Hunt Me! I Crave the Chase (Spooky Boys #3)

It took me a second to replay the conversation and realize what I’d said and what it might imply. Damn. Humans were tricky. He couldn’t smell my intent, or hear my heartbeat. Which meant I had to be as literal as possible, and even then, I might mess up—like I just had.

“I am hungry and I am feeding you.” There. That was better.

“You…are?” Jeffrey blinked up at me, those lovely eyes searching mine like I was a beacon on a stormy sea. Dark brown. The color of freshly turned soil. My favorite color probably—in all the world. Wolves did not have brown eyes. I was used to blues, purples, gold—variations, yes, but the same three shades.

Brown was foreign.

But it was lovely too.

Unable to help myself, I curled a hand around the corner of his jaw, tipping his head up so I could see him better. His scent shifted then, turning musky and sweet. My cock jerked, immediately rising to the occasion. Unable to help myself, I licked my lips.

He likes being touched.

“You are so pretty,” I murmured. “Pretty, pretty, sweet Jeffrey.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d called him that, but he wasn’t cum-drunk and bitch-hazy this time, so he didn’t react the way I’d hoped.

Jeffrey scoffed and his scent soured. He jerked his head out of my grip, though I smelled the loss he felt the second we no longer touched. So I grabbed him again—maneuvering him back into place. When I had him under control, I released a pleased rumble. Immediately, he settled for me—and his scent became musky sweet all over again.

I was glad then that I hadn’t given Butters his wallet back.

I didn’t carry money of my own—I felt no need.

The land had fed me all my life, and I hardly partook in human things like restaurants. For most of my life, the compound hadn’t had anything of the sort. And even if it did, I never would’ve gone there. I’d never in my life walked up to a counter and ordered a meal. But I would today. For Jeffrey.

Using Butters money.

I sniffed out the diner before I saw it, tugging Jeffrey along the night-dark street as the residents began to wake up. During the day, Elmwood was a ghost town, as most of its inhabitants were fanged-ones. They smelled off. A hint of smoke and bitterness that masked the usual heat-musk-salt that humans exuded.

Still, I ignored the unpleasant odor, keeping my touch gentle as I steered Jeffrey toward the scent of grease, and my own stomach growled.

He was quiet again.

And I let him be.

After leaving him alone and frightening him earlier I didn’t deserve his sweet words—even though his voice was music, and every time he opened his mouth it made my heart sing. I would have to do better.

I would do better.

Even if it meant rethinking my master plan.

Because doing better was a choice I could make—even if keeping him wasn’t.

When we pushed into the diner an awful jingle sounded. I jolted, immediately yanking Jeffrey behind me, a menacing growl escaping as I scanned the room for threats. It only took a second to recognize the awful cling—and see that it had come from a bell above the door.

Relaxing, I twisted to make sure Jeffrey was alright—more than a little surprised to find he was staring at me.

Staring at me and smiling.

My tail popped out. I couldn’t help it. It thwapped happily as I beamed back at him, just as brightly. My pants, as always, slipped down to accommodate its length. Not that I was used to wearing pants, because I was not. I hated them actually. With a burning passion.

“You are safe,” I told him proudly.

“From the door,” he echoed, the iciness in his voice melting away.

“Yes.”

“…Thanks?”